Controversial deal reported to KAP: First warning to Galatasaray over jersey sponsor
As controversy continues over Galatasaray signing a sponsorship deal with the news site of the illegal betting site Meritking, NET Holding has claimed that the Yellow-Reds are using the 'Merit' brand unlawfully. In a statement from the company, it was stated, "Necessary notifications will be made to the authorities and a formal warning will be sent."
Galatasaray has signed a sponsorship agreement with meritking.news, the news site of the illegal betting site Meritking.
The Yellow-Reds took the field in this jersey for their home match against Çaykur Rizespor on Saturday. This agreement has caused controversy in the sports community.
GALATASARAY'S STATEMENT ON UNILATERAL TERMINATION
In a statement made by Galatasaray to the Public Disclosure Platform (KAP), it was conveyed that 'the contract will be unilaterally terminated in the event of betting content sharing':
"Our contract is with the meritking.news news site... There is a very clear clause in the contract. We have the right to unilaterally terminate the contract if this site shares any illegal betting, gambling, etc."
The notification to KAP stated that the contract was signed for 2 years at 3.1 million dollars + VAT per year, and the following was noted:
"A sponsorship and advertising agreement has been signed between our company and Serwin Global Solutions SDN BHD for the 2024/25 and 2025/26 football seasons, specifically for the promotion of the 'Meritking.news' brand, which is a global digital sports news website channel, covering back-of-jersey and other advertising and promotional rights in matches played by our Galatasaray men's football team in the Turkish Trendyol Super League and the Turkish Ziraat Cup, for an annual amount of 3,155,000 US Dollars + VAT."
OWNER OF THE BETTING SITE ARRESTED IN DECEMBER 2023
On the other hand, the owner of the illegal betting site MeritKing, Cypriot betting baron Fedlan Kılıçaslan, was arrested in December 2023 on charges of laundering money through jewelers.
STATEMENT FROM NET HOLDING
Following the controversy, a statement also came from NET Holding. In the written statement published on its social media account, it was stated that Galatasaray is using the 'Merit' brand unfairly and unlawfully, and that legal applications have been made regarding the matter.
Hande Tibuk, Board Member and General Coordinator of NET Holding, made the following statement:
"We are exercising all our legal rights against unauthorized uses of the #merit brand belonging to Net Holding. Our legal struggle, which has been going on for years, continues against the owners of #meritkingnews, who essentially operate an illegal online betting and gambling site. Necessary notifications will be made to the authorities and a formal warning will be sent."
ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE PRESS AND THE PUBLIC
— NET Holding A.Ş. (@netholdingas) September 15, 2024
Regarding the process of applying to legal authorities because Galatasaray, one of our country's deep-rooted sports clubs, is directly associated with the illegal betting site "Meritking" as a back-of-jersey sponsor on its new jerseys and is using the "Merit" brand unfairly and unlawfully pic.twitter.com/7oS4WgtDn9
News Source: 12punto
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